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America in secret dialogue with Afghan Taliban

* TV channel claims Saudis, Pakistanis, Afghan leaders assisting talks * Crucial meeting possible after Eidul Azha

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: The Obama administration is engaging the Afghan Taliban in secret talks with the help of Britain, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a private TV channel reported on Monday.

According to the channel, sources said that eight years after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the US was engaging top Afghan Taliban leaders in talks.

Abdullah Ans, son-in-law of Abdullah Azaam, who is Osama Bin Ladin’s mentor and the main proponent of the philosophy of jihad; a Saudi resident identified as Abul Hasan Maddi, who is also a key member of Rata Alam-e-Islami; and an Iraqi national identified as Abu Jood Mehmood Samrai have been involved in the secret talks.

In addition to these people, Harkatul Mujahideen chief Fazalur Rehman Khalil is also assisting in the talks, said the channel. The channel reported that these people were engaging the Taliban in Afghanistan, and they may have crucial meeting in Afghanistan after Eidul Azha.

The sources said the Saudi and Pakistani authorities were also trying to engage the Taliban in talks.

Taliban leader Mullah Omar has nominated his shadow foreign minister, Agha Muhtisam, to hold negotiations on behalf of the Taliban. The channel said the Americans – who now wanted to resolve the Afghan crisis through talks – were not directly talking to the Afghan Taliban.

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